Museum Island in Berlin

                              

With five large museums all owning important collections, the sculptures on the ground around them may not get the attention they deserve.  A recently installed 'monument' gives a thoughtful contrast to the other glorious 'king on horse' sculptures.     http://www.smb.museum/en/museums-and-institutions/museumsinsel-berlin/museum-buildings-collections/kolonnadenhof/skulpturen.html

And the graffiti next to the Bode-museum is something Jules de Goncourt has said?

Translation: "Nobody in the world listens to so many stupid things as the paintings in a 

museum have to do"

One Museum of 180

The weather is cloudy, cold and the wind mixed with rain.  Therefore it is better to just wander in the galleries of the Kunstgewerbemuseum to admire the Brandenburger Tor on a Biedermeier plate. 

http://www.smb.museum/en/museums-and-institutions/kunstgewerbemuseum/about-the-collection.html

Instead of twisting your tongue on Kunstgewerbemuseum just try 'museum of decorative arts' which can be found close to the Philharmony.

The Kulturforum in which this museum is part of has an uninviting court yard - do not get fooled,

Vive La France!

Good to be in Paris to see the stoic reaction of the people living and working here.  Live goes on and I feel that small good deeds made makes everybody feel good.  President Hollande asked everybody to 

show flags and demonstrate patriotism.  Glad to report that very few followed his advice. Some showed the tricolor in a personal way.

Of course the National buildings - like the Palais Royale - went for it and the full moon timidly went into hiding.

More Site-specific Art

There is a lot of space in the West wing in the MFA. In the east side looking up from the ground floor one discovers this bulging ceiling installation by Tara Donovan. What is this surprising biomorphic form?  A giant wasp nest?  The title "Untitled (2003)" is not informative.

Looking closer we realize that with styrofoam cups and hot glue and ingenious creativity, the artist created a sculpture which surprises and delights.

http://channel.louisiana.dk/video/tara-donovan-sculpting-everyday-materials

Site Specific Art

Often we are not aware that the paintings and sculptures on view in museums were not created with a museum in mind.  Castles, churches, living rooms or town halls were among the intended places.  In the West Wing of the MFA are now several 'site specific' installations by contemporary artists which can be seen for some months before they are removed.

Anne Lindberg http://www.archdaily.com/220724/anne-lindberg-transforming-space-with-thread
created this dreamy "pivot green blue"with threads and staplers. The changing sunlight is meant to play in these threads. The form changes depending on the angle of the moving spectator's view.

These photos can not show the magic charm. Only the visitor who walks by and looks up can appreciate this installation's allure.  Situated in the second floor of the Linde Wing! 

Large Melons

The Greek word for large melon is "pepon" which the French pronounced "pompon".  The English then said "pumpion" and the American colonists called them pumpkins. That's what they are still called in the US.

October is the month they are ripe and ready to be used in limitless ways.  Just look at the offers in one of our local grocery stores (Trader Joe's) http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer.

When I saw this pumpkin patch in front of a Wellesley church I could not resist to pick one for us.

Did I choose the right one?  If the squirrels do not nibble on it, I may transform it in a pie.....

Go Eagles! Go Seagulls!

BC Athletics has many different sport teams even if the Football team gets most of attention and TV cover.  Today the swimming-pool area was off limits for casual recreational swimming.  

There were shouts of happiness at the pool side and tears in the locker room.

Every morning the BC "Seagulls" practice from 7.30 for two hours and we hope they did well today.

It was very warm on the full spectators balcony and I did not stay. Tomorrow is a game by the BC Women's Ice hockey team.   http://www.bceagles.com/schedule.aspx?path=whockey

With a seat cushion, a blanket and earplugs I will stay longer.  What did you say?  Sissy? Moi?